In order to do anxiety, we must focus on the object of
anxiety. For, if we stop focusing on the object of our anxiety and look at
something that is notanxiety, we will not be anxious, will we?
Gestalt psychology learned something quite remarkable several years ago. They
learned that when we focus on something, there are items in the picture that we
do not see. When you create a picture of an upcoming event that requires
speaking and you fear you will block, what is it that you focus on? But, what
is in the background of that picture that you are not seeing?

Experiment a little. Think of
the next time you will probably block. In all likelihood you will have a
picture of the person/ situation of that block. Note where in reference to your
eyes that you see that person/situation. In all likelihood that picture will be
right in front of you and it is all that you are looking at. Now, what
are you not seeing? What? Yes, what is in that picture that you are
not seeing? You are so focused on the person or context that you are afraid
will trigger your blocking that you don’t see anything else. Step back from that
person/context and see behind it, beside it, beyond it, etc. What else is out
there that you were not seeing at first?

In order to “step back,” go
into peripheral vision. When we focus on something to the exclusion of
everything else, that is called “foveal” vision. Now, just step back, go into
peripheral vision and see everything off to each side but do more. Not only
look to each side, but look and see what is behind the picture of the block.
Allow your eyes to go beyond the image of the block. What is back
there?

In every picture, image, and
movie that we are seeing, some things are in the foreground and other things are
in the background. When we foreground problems – they become bigger and
more problematic. When we foreground resources– webecome more skilled,
competent and bold.

Figure 1:6Foreground/Background

Look at the above picture. The
old woman, beautiful young lady picture– whatdo you see? In order to
see the young girl the old woman must go into the background. In order for you
to see the old woman, the young girl must go into the background. It all boils
down to – whom do you want to see, the young woman or the old hag? What about
that – it boils down to whom do you want to see?

Consider the PWBS who had an
image of him as a scared little kid who froze in the presence of authority
figures. When he froze he blocked. He had another image of him as a resourceful
adult that always spoke fluently. When he saw the scared little kid, guess
where the adult was? The scared little kid was in the foreground and the mature
fluent adult was in the background.

Foregrounding Resources

What resources would you like
to foreground in the theater of your mind? How about faith, courage,
relaxation, presence of mind, sense of feeling centered, sense of being whole,
permission to feel more empowered, etc.?

In fact, look for the resources
in your “fearful and anxious” sensory-rich movie of your blocking. Get one of
those pictures that you normally get that creates great fear of blocking.Now, look in back of that or beyond that andnotice the resourcesback there. Yes, those
resources are back there and you can see them if you look close enough. The
resources probably exist so far back in the background that you can just barely
imagine them. You may see yourself speaking confidently and fluently with those
resources back there. You may see confidence, calmness, courage, faith,
etc. And yet, if you allow this process to continue, you can begin even now to
recognize those resources in the background... and call them forth. You
can call them forth to the foreground. Play with this process.

Note: If you are a
person of religious beliefs, if you look far enough you will see God. Yes, that
is right, if you will just look far enough back there you will see God.

As you notice
those-resources, you can let the foreground of fear and anxiety of blocking
fade far, far away into the background as you at the same time bring those
resources to the foreground. And, you have your choices– you can do it slowly, gradually, in an ever-increasing fashion, or you
can do it suddenly, radically, and with a jolt that all of a sudden, completely
and fully lands you there.

How to Play:

This pattern is primarily
written as a visual pattern. You can also do this with sounds and with feelings.
You will have sounds in the foreground and other sounds in the background. You
will have some feeling in the foreground and other feelings in the background.
You can do it with concepts (words, self talk and voices). Some concepts will be
foreground and others in the background. Some voices will be foreground and
others background. For rehearsal, I prefer doing it visually but you use what
works best for you.

We have the pattern below for
backgrounding fear of blocking. However, it will work with many unwanted
thoughts. The processes of running a shifting of background/foregrounds in order
to bring more resources to bear on your experiences runs as follows:

1) Detect the
Foreground/Background Structure

·Get a visual image of fearing blocking. Just notice what you find
in the foreground. What=s
up front? What stands out?

·Next shift your awareness to the background against which it
stands. What is “back there?”

·You may need to step way back and see what is behind and/or
surrounding the fear or anxiety.

2) Become aware of your
own Foregrounding/ Backgrounding Patterns

·What do you typically foreground in order to do fear blocking?

·What do you regularly and systematically background or avoid in
order to experience this fear of blocking?

·In other words, what do you “not see” that allows you to
experience the fear blocking? What is it that you must foreground in order to
block that you do not foreground when speaking fluent? It is back there.
Look!

·How much flexibility of consciousness do you have with
regard to these choices? Do they serve you well?

·Do they enhance your life?

3)
Decide to Take Charge of Shifting these Images

·That we foreground some things and background other things simply
describes one of the factors about how the brain works. Taking control
over the way we run our brain so that we learn how to foreground resources,
solutions, getting things done, etc.; however, describes, how we can use this
distinction for running our brains more effectively.

·So run the ecology check constantly on your backgrounding and
foregrounding to make sure that your learned patterns work for you rather than
against you.

4) Commit yourself to
Foregrounding Resources

·If you know that you can put resourceful thoughts, beliefs,
pictures, sounds, music, feelings, etc. in the foreground of your mind, then
make a commitment to yourself to do so. In your mind, move up and utter a
profoundly powerful “Yes!” to that resource. “I will make that picture,
idea, feeling, sound, music, etc. stand out in my mind!”

·If what stands out as non-sense – hurtful old pains, old
fears, resentments, regrets, etc. ―
guess what states of mind that will evoke in you?

·Will that do you any good?

5) Swish the Background
to the Foreground.

·Once you feel strongly compelled to get away from that old fear
of blocking, then go to the background and discover those resources.

·Do it so that your attention shifts to the new referents.

·Swish the fear of blocking to the background and the
resources of fluency to the foreground. Do it fast and repeat five times – more
if needed.

·Every time you thing of the fear of blocking
― see, hear, and feel it fading out to
the background as the new resourceful fluent you comes dancing into the
foreground and really stand-out with triumphant music playing and trumpets
blowing!